Shubman Gill has admitted that India’s fielding is not where it needs to be, one year out from the 2027 ODI World Cup. After India lost the third ODI to West Indies by five wickets in New Chandigarh on October 3, the captain said his side dropped six or seven catches across the series.
“Overall in the series, I think we dropped six or seven catches, which is not a good sign leading up to the World Cup. You want your fielding to be top-notch.”
Shubman Gill, post-match presentation, October 3, 2026
India still won the series 2-1, and Gill was Player of the Series with 334 runs. But they lost the final game defending 351. Shai Hope made an unbeaten 162, and West Indies completed their highest successful chase in ODIs.
The dropped catches made the headlines. Gill’s second admission, that India did not know whether to attack or defend, says more about what is going wrong.
The chances went down again in New Chandigarh. Virat Kohli dropped Amir Jangoo on 34, and Jangoo went on to make 67 off 56 balls in a 109-run stand with Hope. In Guwahati, Kohli had dropped Hope, who then scored 104.
India also bowled their overs too slowly and were penalised after the 46th over, which left only four fielders outside the circle at the death. Gill then gave the 48th over to debutant Anshul Kamboj, even though Mohammed Siraj still had two overs left. Kamboj missed his wide yorkers and bowled a no-ball.
“I feel sometimes we are not really clear whether we are attacking or we are defending, especially when we are bowling in the death overs.”
Shubman Gill, post-match presentation, October 3, 2026
Insider Read
When a captain admits his side did not know whether to attack or defend, the problem is the plan, not one or two bad balls. Attack means hard lengths with catchers in place. Defence means yorkers with men on the boundary, and a bowler stuck between the two bowls a ball that suits neither field, which goes to the rope.
The over-rate penalty made it worse. With one fewer boundary rider, a debutant aiming wide yorkers had no margin for error, while Siraj’s overs went unused. Hope had taken the chase deep on purpose, and he cashed in on India’s confusion.
Lost 5 of 6 When Defending
New Chandigarh was not a one-off. Gill has now lost five of his six ODIs as captain when India have defended a total.
A concern for Captain Gill while defending? 👀
Shubman Gill has now lost five of his six ODIs as captain when India have defended a total. 📉
#ShubmanGill #TeamIndia #ODI #Sportskeeda https://t.co/YJL40gKbTf
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) October 3, 2026
| Year | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Australia | Lost |
| 2025 | Australia | Lost |
| 2026 | New Zealand | Lost |
| 2026 | Afghanistan | Won |
| 2026 | England | Lost |
| 2026 | West Indies | Lost |
The West Indies series kept this problem hidden until the final game. India chased 296 in Thiruvananthapuram and 406 in Guwahati, where Gill made an unbeaten double century. The third ODI was the only time all series that their bowlers had to defend a total.
India played the series without Jasprit Bumrah, who was away on Asian Games duty, and the injured Hardik Pandya. Their next ODI assignment is against New Zealand in November.
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